Ride2Work
ON October 17, Emu Plains accountant Lyle O'Keefe plans to lay down his calculator to be part of a commuter revolution.
He will be one of more than 150,000 Australians riding to work as part of National Ride2Work Day.
Mr O'Keefe will be riding a staggering 42 kilometres from his home in Baulkham Hills to Alco Battery Sales in Emu Plains — something he does once a week anyway.
"It takes me just over an hour," Mr O'Keefe, 42, said.
"I started riding to work about four years ago. Back then I was working in Circular Quay; I'd had two flats on the way to work. It took about 50 minutes."
Mr O'Keefe takes part in Ride2Work Day every year. He also rides socially most Saturdays.
"The benefits of riding are obviously improved fitness, you feel better when you get to work after a ride, energised, you're not adding to the petrol fumes each day, and I actually enjoy being out on the bike," he said.
Ride2Work program manager, Cory Boardman, said Ride2Work Day had proven an excellent catalyst for introducing healthy transport behaviours in the longer-term.
"We surveyed first-time participants in last year's event and five months later 38 per cent were still riding at least weekly," Mr Boardman said.
He says it takes only three hours of riding a week to reduce your risk of heart disease by more than 50 per cent.
Walking for exercise had the highest level of participation nationally in 2009-10, with 23 per cent. Cycling was equal fourth with jogging or running.
Register for Ride2Work Day at ride2work.com.au.